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Cancer environmental immunotherapy: starving tumor cell to death by targeting TGFB on immune cell

Xing Huang1,2, Gang Zhang3,2, Tingbo Liang1,2

  • 1Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China dr.huangxing@foxmail.com liangtingbo@zju.edu.cn.

Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer
|June 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Blocking transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) signaling in T cells can prevent tumors from accessing nutrients, leading to cancer cell death. This approach shows promise for effective cancer immunotherapy by targeting the tumor

Area of Science:

  • Cancer Biology
  • Immunology
  • Metabolic Research

Background:

  • Tumors are characterized as non-healing wounds, disrupting their microenvironment.
  • Intersectional communication between tumors and their metabolic/immune surroundings is crucial for cancer progression.
  • The transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) signaling pathway plays a significant role in this interplay.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comment on TGFB-mediated crosstalk between the immune system and nutritional supply in cancer.
  • To highlight cancer immunotherapeutic strategies targeting the immune-metabolism interplay within the tumor microenvironment.
  • To explore the potential of TGFB blockade as a novel cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of recent studies on TGFB signaling in CD4+ helper T cells.
  • Investigation of the effects of TGFB pathway blockade on intratumoral vascular remodeling.
  • Commentary on the impact of nutrient deprivation on tumor cells.

Main Results:

  • Lack of TGFB signaling in CD4+ T cells induces vascular remodeling, mimicking wound healing.
  • This remodeling prevents tumor cells from receiving essential nutrients, leading to starvation.
  • TGFB blockade promotes an effective anti-cancer immune response.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting TGFB in cancer immunotherapy offers a promising strategy by disrupting tumor nutrient supply.
  • Exploiting the immune-metabolism interplay via TGFB blockade could lead to effective cancer treatments.
  • Cancer environmental immunotherapy targeting TGFB represents a potentially groundbreaking approach for patients.
Keywords:
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytesimmunomodulationimmunotherapymetabolic networks and pathwaystumor microenvironment

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